SBI to launch mobile wallet ''Batua'' for feature phone users

Dated: November 12, 2015

State Bank of India (SBI), the nation's largest lender is soon going to launch wallet services called ‘Batua’ for feature phone users and the service will be available to existing as well as non-SBI customers. The application will be available on Java-enabled mobile phones.

The bank also launched its mobile wallet SBI Buddy for smart phone users in August this year. SBI Buddy customers can send money to new and registered customers, book movies, flights, hotels as well as use the mobile wallet for shopping. Customers using Batua will only be able to load, pay and receive money. The bank is also planning to launch another version of Batua for very basic phones which does not offer internet access and does not entail downloading any app.

While, this project is in the pilot stage, SBI plans to use the instant messaging service to allow customers to pay and receive money. The bank plans to launch this next year.

Several of India’s private banks have launched mobile payment solutions for smart phone users. In June, HDFC Bank launched PayZapp, a oneclick payment and purchase solution. It has also launched Chillr, a thirdparty app platform that enables users to transfer money to anybody in their phone book contacts. ICICI Bank had launched ‘Pockets’, a wallet model aimed to take on industry rivals Paytm and MobiKwik. Axis Bank also recently rolled out a full fledged mobile app ‘Lime’ that enables shopping, making payments and banking under one window....